The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume I Part 27

Two boys join hands and feet over the back of a third, the which creeps away with them on hands and knees to a certain distance; and if able to do this, he, the Cuddy, must have a ride as one of the powks on some other's back.-Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopaedia_.

Cudgel

[Ill.u.s.tration: Change of sides]

[Ill.u.s.tration: A run]

Four or more boys can play this game, and sides are chosen. Two holes are made in the ground at a distance of about eight or ten feet apart. A ring about a foot in diameter is made round each hole. A boy stands at each hole with a stick, which he puts into the hole to guard it. Two other boys stand behind the holes, who act as bowlers. One of these throws a small piece of wood shaped like a Cat, and tries to pitch it into the hole. The boy guarding the hole tries to hit it with his stick.

If he succeeds, he and the boy at the other hole run to each other's places. Should the boy who throws the piece of wood succeed in getting it into the hole, the batsmen are out. Should the Cat fall into the ring or a span beyond, one of the bowlers picks it up, and both run to a hiding-place. They then agree as to which of them should hold the Cat.

This must be carried in such a way that it cannot be seen by the batsmen, both boys a.s.suming the same att.i.tude. Both boys then resume their previous places. They kneel down, still keeping the same att.i.tudes. The batsmen, keeping their sticks in the holes, then agree which of the two holds the Cat. One batsman runs across and puts his stick into the hole behind which the boy kneels whom they consider has the Cat, the other then running to his place. If they are right in their guess, the holder of the Cat throws it across the ground for the opposite bowler to put it in the hole before the second batsman reaches it. If they guess wrongly, the holder of the Cat puts it into the hole as soon as the batsman runs, and they then become the batsmen for the next game. If the batsmen leave their holes unguarded with the stick, the catsmen can at any time put them "out," by putting the Cat in a hole. If more than two boys on a side play, the others field as in "Cricket."-Barnes (A. B. Gomme).

See "Cat and Dog."

Curcuddie

I. Will ye gang to the lea, Curcuddie, And join your plack wi' me, Curcuddie?

I lookit about and I saw naebody, And linkit awa' my lane, Curcuddie.

-Chambers' _Popular Rhymes_, p. 139.

II. Will ye gang wi' me, Curcuddie, Gang wi' me o'er the lea?

I lookit roun', saw naebody; Curcuddie, he left me.

-Biggar (William Ballantyne).

(_b_) This is a grotesque kind of dance, performed in a shortened posture, sitting on one's hams, with arms akimbo, the dancers forming a circle of independent figures. It always excites a hearty laugh among the senior bystanders; but, ridiculous as it is, it gives occasion for the display of some spirit and agility, as well as skill, there being always an inclination to topple over. Each performer sings the verse (Chambers; Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopaedia_).

Mr. Ballantyne says that each one apart tried to dance by throwing out their feet and jumping sideways.

(_c_) The first syllable of this word is, says Jamieson, undoubtedly the verb _curr_, to sit on the houghs or hams. The second may be from Teut.

_kudde_, a flock; _kudd-en_, coire, convenire, congregari, aggregari; _kudde wijs_, gregatim, catervatim, q. to curr together. The same game is called _Harry Hurcheon_ in the North of Scotland, either from the resemblance of one in this position to a _hurcheon_, or hedge-hog, squatting under a bush; or from the Belg. _hurk-en_ to squat, to _hurkle_.-Jamieson.

See "Cobbler's Hornpipe," "Cutch-a-Cutchoo."

Curly Locks

[Music]

I. Curly locks, curly locks, Wilt thou be mine?

Thou shalt not wash dishes Nor yet feed the swine; But sit on a fine cushion And sew a fine seam, And feed upon strawberries, Sugar and cream.

-Earls Heaton (Herbert Hardy).

II. Bonny la.s.s, canny la.s.s, Wilta be mine?

Thou's nowder wesh dishes Nor sarra the swine: But sit on thy crippy, &c.

-d.i.c.kinson's _c.u.mberland Glossary_.

(_b_) Two children, a girl and a boy, separate from their fellows, who are not particularly placed, the boy caressing the girl's curls and singing the verses.

(_c_) This game is evidently a dramatic representation of wooing, and probably the action of the game has never been quite completed in the nursery. The verses are given as "nursery rhymes" by Halliwell, Nos.

cccclx.x.xiii. and ccccxciv. The tune is from Rimbault's _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 70. The words given by him are the same as the Earls Heaton version.

Currants and Raisins

Currants and raisins a penny a pound, Three days holiday.

This is a game played "running under a handkerchief;" "something like 'Oranges and Lemons.'"-Lincoln (Miss M. Peac.o.c.k).

Cushion Dance

[Music]

-_Dancing Master_, 1686.

This music is exactly as it is printed in the book referred to.

(_b_) The following is an account of the dance as it was known in Derbyshire amongst the farmers' sons and daughters and the domestics, all of whom were on a pretty fair equality, very different from what prevails in farm-houses of to-day. The "Cushion Dance" was a famous old North-country amus.e.m.e.nt, and among the people of Northumberland it is still commonly observed. The dance was performed with boisterous fun, quite unlike the game as played in higher circles, where the conditions and rules of procedure were of a more refined order.

The company were seated round the room, a fiddler occupying a raised seat in a corner. When all were ready, two of the young men left the room, returning presently, one carrying a large square cushion, the other an ordinary drinking-horn, china bowl, or silver tankard, according to the possessions of the family. The one carrying the cushion locked the door, putting the key in his pocket. Both gentlemen then went to the fiddler's corner, and after the cushion-bearer had put a coin in the vessel carried by the other, the fiddler struck up a lively tune, to which the young men began to dance round the room, singing or reciting to the music:-

Frink.u.m, frank.u.m is a fine song, An' we will dance it all along; All along and round about, Till we find the pretty maid out.

After making the circuit of the room, they halted on reaching the fiddler's corner, and the cushion-bearer, still to the music of the fiddle, sang or recited:-

Our song it will no further go!

The Fiddler: Pray, kind sir, why say you so?

The Cushion-bearer: Because Jane Sandars won't come to.

The Fiddler: She must come to, she shall come to, An' I'll make her whether she will or no.

The cushion-bearer and vessel-holder then proceeded with the dance, going as before round the room, singing "Frink.u.m, frank.u.m," &c., till the cushion-bearer came to the lady of his choice, before whom he paused, placed the cushion on the floor at her feet, and knelt upon it.

The vessel-bearer then offered the cup to the lady, who put money in it and knelt on the cushion in front of the kneeling gentleman. The pair kissed, arose, and the gentleman, first giving the cushion to the lady with a bow, placed himself behind her, taking hold of some portion of her dress. The cup-bearer fell in also, and they danced on to the fiddler's corner, and the ceremony was again gone through as at first, with the subst.i.tution of the name of "John" for "Jane," thus:-

The Lady: Our song it will no further go!

The Fiddler: Pray, kind miss, why say you so?

The Lady: Because John Sandars won't come to.

The Fiddler: He must come to, he shall come to, An' I'll make him whether he will or no!

The dancing then proceeded, and the lady, on reaching her choice (a gentleman, of necessity), placed the cushion at his feet. He put money in the horn and knelt. They kissed and rose, he taking the cushion and his place in front of the lady, heading the next dance round, the lady taking him by the coat-tails, the first gentleman behind the lady, with the horn-bearer in the rear. In this way the dance went on till all present, alternately a lady and gentleman, had taken part in the ceremony. The dance concluded with a romp in file round the room to the quickening music of the fiddler, who at the close received the whole of the money collected by the horn-bearer.

At Charminster the dance is begun by a single person (either man or woman), who dances about the room with a cushion in his hand, and at the end of the tune stops and sings:-

Man: This dance it will no further go.

Musician: I pray you, good sir, why say you so?